Hey coach! You’re awesome at helping clients crush their fitness goals. But if you’re still struggling to fill your schedule or make the income you deserve, it’s probably not your training skills that need work.

It’s your business skills. 👀

The best online business courses fill this gap, teaching you how to attract clients, build systems, and create a business that grows even when you’re not in the gym. 

And here’s the thing… In 2025, learning these skills online has NEVER been easier. 

Top-notch business courses for personal trainers are now accessible anywhere, anytime, letting you level up your career without missing a single client session. 💪

Let’s break down why business skills matter and which online courses will actually move the needle for your fitness business this year. 

Why Personal Trainers Need Business Skills in 2025

The fitness industry has evolved WAY beyond just knowing exercises and anatomy.

In 2025, the most successful PTs aren’t just fitness coaches. They’re entrepreneurs with a brand, a marketing strategy, and multiple revenue streams.

Without solid business skills, you’re essentially building your career on shaky ground. You might be the most knowledgeable trainer in your city, but if potential clients don’t know you exist—or why they should choose YOU—your expertise doesn’t cut it. 🤷‍♀️

Plus, future-proofing your fitness career means being adaptable. When COVID hit, trainers with online systems and diverse income streams pivoted quickly. Those relying solely on gym floor sessions? Not so much. 

📝 Check Out: A Guide to Continuing Education for Personal Trainers

How to Choose the Right Online Business Course

With dozens of courses promising to transform your fitness career overnight, how do you find the ones ACTUALLY worth your time and money? 

Here’s your no-BS checklist:

Is it fitness-specific? 

General business courses are OK, but courses designed specifically for personal trainers are better. Look for courses that address YOUR unique challenges—like selling results and building real trust with your clients. 

Who’s teaching it? 

Skip the marketing gurus who’ve never trained a client in their life. Look for instructors who’ve built successful fitness businesses from the ground up. Real experience > theory all day.

What’s the format? 

Do you learn best through video? Reading? Practical application? Choose courses that match how YOU learn best.

Is there community support? 

Running a fitness business can get lonely AF. The best business courses online have active communities where you can connect with trainers facing the same struggles.

What’s the proof? 

Skip the hype. Look for testimonials from real trainers who’ve gotten measurable results from the course. Proof > promises. 💯

Best Online Business Courses for Personal Trainers in 2025

Now let’s dive into the best business courses online that will actually move the needle for your fitness career this year!

Best for Beginners

Just starting out and feeling overwhelmed? The best online business courses for beginners give you a clear roadmap without information overload.

Online Trainer Business (OTB) Essentials – ABC Trainerize Academy

Our course helps you build an online business that plays to your strengths. We’ll show you how to:

• Get established even if you’re “new” to online coaching
• Build a brand that makes competitors irrelevant
• Create signature offers that clients actually want to buy

…Helping you launch your online personal training business in less than 24 hours. 🙌

ISSA Business of Personal Training Course

This course is perfect for trainers who need a structured blueprint to launch their fitness business. This course shows you how to:

• Build confidence when you’re just starting out
• Create income streams that don’t require endless 1:1 sessions
• Develop leadership skills (because yes, you ARE a leader!)

Jonathan Goodman’s Online Training Mentorship Program 

This program cuts through the noise for trainers who want proven systems, not theory. It focuses on:

• Creating content that attracts clients (without posting 24/7)
• Client care systems that prevent ghosting and no-shows
• Building business systems that let you scale without burning out

NFPT Fitness Business Jumpstart Program 

This course is for action-takers who want results NOW, not next year. This 30-day program includes:

• Daily tasks that build momentum (no more analysis paralysis!)
• Ready-to-use templates for everything from pricing to marketing
• A completely action-based approach—no fluff, no BS

Best for Marketing and Branding

Tired of posting randomly and praying for clients? These are the best business courses for trainers who are ready to get serious about marketing and branding.  

DigitalMarketer Digital Marketing Mastery 

Although not designed specifically for trainers, this course teaches you the fundamentals of digital marketing—not just random tactics. This certification helps you:

 Create content that positions you as THE expert in your niche

• Build email campaigns that turn subscribers into paying clients
• Run ads that actually bring in qualified leads, not tire-kickers

Fitness Education Online’s Marketing Courses 

These specialized courses were built BY fitness pros FOR fitness pros. They show you how to:

• Create Instagram Stories that showcase your expertise (without feeling awkward)
• Build Facebook groups that turn followers into clients
• Turn your social media from a time-suck into a client-attracting machine 🧲

📝 Check Out: The Top Social Media Trends for Fitness Pros in 2025

Meta’s Social Media Marketing Certificate 

This FREE course is perfect if you want to master Facebook and Instagram without getting lost in jargon. It breaks down: 

• How to target your ideal clients with laser precision
• Creating ads that stop the scroll and get attention
• Tracking what’s working so you’re not wasting money

Performance Training Academy – Business and Marketing for the Fitness Professional

This course helps you build a complete digital presence that works while you sleep. This program covers:

• Building a website that converts visitors into clients
• Branding that makes you the obvious choice in your area
• Content creation systems that save you hours every week

Best for Scaling and Leadership

Ready to grow beyond just you? The best online business courses for established trainers help you build teams and systems that multiply your impact. 🙌

Fitness Business Growth – ABC Trainerize Academy

Our course brings you proven strategies from our friends at NPE Fitness to scale your impact and income—at a price that WON’T break the bank. We deliver:

• Strategies from trainers who’ve built what you’re trying to build
• Templates and tools you can implement immediately (no reinventing the wheel)
• A step-by-step playbook for growing both clients and revenue

Grow Program – NPE Fitness

This course is for trainers who want systematic growth, not just random hustle. Topics include: 

• Client acquisition that brings in predictable leads month after month
• Team building that lets you leverage other people’s time and skills
• Financial planning so your profit grows alongside your revenue 💰

Todd Durkin’s Mastermind 

This high-level program combines business growth with personal development for trainers who want both. It emphasizes:

• Leadership skills that inspire both clients and team members
• Multiple revenue streams so you’re not dependent on any single income source
• Building a business that aligns with your personal mission

Unicorn Society – Business for Unicorns Program

This course is built for trainers scaling up to multi-trainer businesses or studios. Their system focuses on:

• Client experiences that are so good, people can’t help but refer friends
• Team culture that attracts and retains the best talent
• Systems that deliver consistent results, even when you’re not there

How to Get the Most Out of Your Business Course

TBH even the best online business courses won’t help if you just binge-watch the videos and never DO anything.

Here’s how to actually get results:

1. Block implementation time — Schedule specific hours to APPLY what you learn
2. Apply one thing at a time — Don’t try to overhaul everything at once (seriously, don’t)
3. Track your results — What’s actually working? Double down on that!
4. Connect with other students — Ask questions, share wins, and learn from others’ mistakes
5. Revisit the material — The best courses reveal new insights every time you review them

Remember, taking a business course isn’t about adding another cert to your bio (though there’s nothing with that!). It’s about transforming your fitness business into something that gives you more money, more freedom, and more impact. 

Ready to Level Up Your Personal Training Business? 🚀

The ABC Trainerize Academy offers courses designed specifically for fitness pros who want real results, not just theory. 

We’ve brought together industry and product experts to deliver highly practical courses at a value that can’t be beat. 

Your goals are more important than your comfort zone. Check out the ABC Trainerize Academy today and start building the fitness business (and lifestyle) you actually want!